January 10, 2025

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Okinawa Police on January 8 sent the report of a U.S. Marine in his 30s to prosecution authorities on charges of sexually assaulting and injuring an unacquainted woman in her 20s on the main island of Okinawa last November.

Receiving the information from the prefectural police, Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny on the same day made a comment and pointed out that in only about one year after the rape of an underage Okinawan girl in December of 2023, five sexual crimes or “malicious crimes that disrespect the human rights and dignity of women” took place involving U.S. military personnel.

Regarding the repeated heinous crimes committed by U.S. soldiers stationed in Okinawa, Tamaki said, “We cannot help but have strong doubts about the effectiveness of the prevention measures the U.S. military is implementing, such as ‘liberty regulations’ and education given to U.S. troops,” and questioned the state of discipline within the U.S. military itself.

In response to the revelation of a series of sex crimes committed by U.S. soldiers, the U.S. Forces Japan in July of last year proposed to establish a “forum” as a new framework for consultation among the Okinawa prefectural government, Okinawan local residents and U.S. troops in Okinawa. USFJ presented measures to “prevent recurrence,” including improving the discipline and education for soldiers. Three months later, the USFJ announced that it would review its “off-base liberty policy” and prohibit all U.S. service members from off-base drinking between 1:00 am and 5:00 am.

However, it remains unclear what kind of education is being given to them to prevent sex crimes and whether the Marine whose crime was recently filed with prosecutors had received such education. In addition, the proposed “forum” has not yet been established.

Okinawa-elected JCP Dietmember Akamine Seiken at a meeting of the Lower House Committee on Security on December 19 last year revealed that a total of 26 incidents and accidents involving U.S. forces in Okinawa had been reported, including eleven criminal arrests and two fatal traffic accidents, since October of last year. Akamine asserted, “Both the tightening of discipline and the prevention measures, such as the review of ‘liberty policy’, are ineffective in preventing the incidents.”

It is clear that the U.S. military is not making serious efforts to prevent recurrence. The Japanese government should no longer simply repeat, “We will request stricter discipline.” Japan should demand that the U.S. military implement truly effective measures and should verify whether the measures are actually being enforced.

Past related article:
> Even though official discipline tightened, crimes committed by US servicemen continue
[December 21, 2024]